alignment English · revision 39815

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1742, J. Martyn & E. Chambers, translation of the Philosophical History of the Royal Academy of Sciences}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /əˈlaɪn.mənt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It was formed [[af|en|align|-ment]] in English, on the model of [[m|fr|alignement]],^(OED 2026) and Etymonline, Merriam-Webster and the Oxford Dictionary of English simply derive it from the French noun.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(ODE 2010) In French ''alignement'' meant the official marking out of a public road in 1387, an arrangement in a straight line in 1397, and a line of soldiers from 1774.^(OED 2026) The French noun comes from [[m|fr|aligner|t=to arrange in a line]],^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) itself [[m|fro|alignier|t=to set in line]], made of [[m|fro|à|t=to]] and [[m|fro|ligne|t=line]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024)^(SOED 2002) from [[m|la|līnea|t=line]].^(AHD 2024) Dictionary.com and Merriam-Webster also record the spelling [[m|en|alinement]].^(Dictionary.com 2016)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The result of arranging things in a line or in their proper relative positions: 1742, in a translation of the ''Philosophical History'' of the French Academy of Sciences.^(OED 2026)^(HTOED) Merriam-Webster also dates its first sense to 1742,^(MWU 2024) while Etymonline gives 1790 and Dictionary.com 1780–90.^(Etymonline)^(Dictionary.com 2016)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word began in the practical language of surveyors, soldiers and engineers: a line of soldiers from 1781,^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002) the route of a road, railway or canal from 1810,^(OED 2026) and the act of bringing things into line from 1829.^(OED 2026)^(HTOED) In archaeology it has named a row of three or more standing stones since 1831.^(OED 2026)^(Collins 2023) The political sense, a grouping of parties or powers with shared goals, is recorded from 1866,^(OED 2026)^(HTOED) though Etymonline dates it to 1933.^(Etymonline) The phrases ''in alignment'' and ''out of alignment'' (1807 and 1841) gave the figurative sense of agreement or its lack.^(OED 2026) Biochemists have used it since 1960 for matching protein or nucleic-acid sequences.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1742 – arrangement in a line or in proper relative positions.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1781 – military: a line of soldiers.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1807 – ''in alignment''.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1810 – the route of a road, railway or canal.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1831 – archaeology: a row of standing stones.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1866 – politics: a grouping of parties or powers.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1933 – Etymonline's date for the political sense.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1960 – biochemistry: matching of sequences.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Arrangement in a straight [[line]], or in the correct position relative to other parts; the line so formed: ''The mechanic checked the alignment of the front wheels.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # A position of agreement or [[alliance]] with a party, cause or group; such a grouping of parties or countries.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # The ground plan of a road or railway, as distinct from its [[profile]].^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # (archaeology) A row or rows of ancient [[standing stone|alt=standing stones]].^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dealignment]]

+ * [[realignment]]

+ * [[nonalignment]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[align]]

+ * [[line]]

+ * [[linear]]

+ * [[realign]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}